MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -Pat White got back on the field in the second half after dislocating his thumb. He couldn’t rescue No. 2 West Virginia’s national championship hopes.
White missed much of the Mountaineers’ 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday night after he was injured in the second quarter, and West Virginia’s explosive offense never recovered.
The Mountaineers (10-2, 5-2 Big East), who had already clinched the Big East’s automatic berth to the Bowl Championship Series, now must wait until Sunday night when the BCS lineup is announced to see their postseason destination.
West Virginia became the latest in a long line of second-ranked teams to fall this season, but none came on a bigger stage. The Mountaineers have never won a national championship.
Heavy favorite West Virginia had averaged 42 points per game and 310 rushing yards this season, but history has shown anything can happen in the Backyard Brawl.
It was the Mountaineers’ lowest output of the season, surpassing the 13 points they scored in a loss to South Florida.
White was hurt on a keeper with 5:12 left in the second quarter when he fell awkwardly on his right hand. Trainers wrapped his hand in ice and White didn’t return until midway through the fourth.
Brown replaced White after he was initially injured and led West Virginia to the game’s opening points, finishing the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. But Brown and the Mountaineers couldn’t muster any offense after halftime.
Vaughn Rivers fumbled the kickoff to open the second half, leading to a Pittsburgh touchdown. West Virginia ran just four offensive plays in the third quarter.
Brown’s fourth-quarter fumble at the West Virginia 23 led to an 18-yard field goal by Conor Lee that put Pittsburgh ahead 13-7.
Noel Devine returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the Pittsburgh 33 with 6:08 left. White then returned for the first time since the first half but the Mountaineers turned the ball over on four plays.
West Virginia got another chance with 3 minutes left. White threw a 20-yard pass to Darius Reynaud to the Pittsburgh 33 and White ran 12 yards on the next play to the 21. But White fumbled on a keeper to set up fourth-and-17 from the 28 and he threw incomplete in the end zone to snuff out the Mountaineers’ chances.
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